Q
What are SCI Chester's visiting hours?
PA DOC doesn't publish SCI Chester's specific visiting hours online. Call (610) 490-5412 to confirm current scheduling before you plan a trip.
Visitation
Updated July 13, 2026
Verified from official government sources
SCI Chester
Physical Address
500 E. 4th Street, Chester, PA 19013-4551
Everything families need to know about SCI Chester in Chester, PA: visiting, sending money, phone calls, mail, and finding someone in custody.
SCI Chester
City
Chester
County
Delaware County
State
PA
Facility Type
state prison
Gender
Male
Capacity
Not published by PA DOC as a fixed number; check the current monthly population report
Custody Levels
Medium security
Operator
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC)
Address
500 E. 4th Street, Chester, PA 19013-4551
Phone
(610) 490-5412
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Quick Facts
Visitation
- ✓ Scheduled through PA DOC's online Inmate Visitation System (IVS)
- ✓ Specific visiting hours aren't published online, call to confirm
- ✓ Up to 4 in-person visits and 6 video visits a month for general population
- ✓ 14 housing units mean scheduling may vary by unit assignment
Send Money
- ✓ JPay handles deposits statewide: online, phone, mail, or cash
- ✓ Card deposits capped at $300 per 72 hours
- ✓ Money orders capped at $999.99
- ✓ Cash deposits capped at $5,000
Phone & Messaging
- ✓ Securus handles phone calls statewide, 800-844-6591
- ✓ ViaPath Technologies/ConnectNetwork for email, 877-650-4249
- ✓ No published per-minute rate, confirm directly with Securus
Mail & Photos
- ✓ Address to Smart Communications/PADOC, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733
- ✓ Include inmate's full name and PA DOC number
- ✓ Originals destroyed 45 days after scanning
- ✓ Books go to a separate Security Processing Center address
Articles for This Facility
Inmate Search
Find Someone at SCI Chester
PA DOC runs one statewide locator, not a separate lookup per prison.
View Article Visitation
SCI Chester Visiting Hours and Scheduling
Scheduled through the online Inmate Visitation System, not a facility phone line.
View Article Send Money
How to Send Money to SCI Chester
JPay handles deposits for every PA DOC facility, including Chester.
View Article Phone Calls
SCI Chester Phone Calls Through Securus
Securus runs the phone system for every PA DOC facility, including Chester.
View Article Mail & Photos
Mail and Photos to SCI Chester
Mail goes through Smart Communications in Florida first, not directly to the facility.
View ArticleWhat You Need to Know
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
See our sources ›
Visits are scheduled through PA DOC's online Inmate Visitation System. SCI Chester's specific hours aren't published online, so confirm scheduling by phone.
See the full breakdown Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
See our sources ›
JPay handles all deposits statewide, with caps of $300 per 72 hours for cards, $999.99 for money orders, and $5,000 for cash.
See the full breakdown Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
See our sources ›
Securus handles phone service statewide. PA DOC doesn't publish a per-minute rate, so confirm current pricing directly with Securus.
See the full breakdown Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
See our sources ›
General mail routes through Smart Communications in Florida before reaching SCI Chester. Books and publications go to a separate address.
See the full breakdownFamilies Also Ask
6 of 7 questions
Q
How do I find someone at SCI Chester?
Use PA DOC's statewide Inmate/Parolee Locator at pa.gov/services/cor/locate-an-inmate-or-parolee and confirm the result lists SCI Chester.
Inmate Search
Q
How do I send money to an inmate at SCI Chester?
Through JPay: online at jpay.com, by phone at 800-574-5729, by mail with a money order, or in cash at a participating kiosk.
Send Money
Q
Who provides phone service?
Securus, reachable at securustech.net or 800-844-6591. PA DOC doesn't publish a specific per-minute rate.
Phone Calls
Q
What's the mailing address for SCI Chester?
General mail goes to Smart Communications/PADOC, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733, with the inmate's full name and PA DOC number included.
Mail & Photos
Q
What was SCI Chester originally built for?
PA DOC designed it as the 24th state correctional institution, built to provide substance abuse treatment services both inside the facility and in the surrounding community.
General
Q
What makes SCI Chester's housing setup different?
One unit, nicknamed Little Scandinavia, was redesigned with a communal kitchen and landscaped green space to support reentry-focused programming.
GeneralMore Articles
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 13, 2026.